Shedding mechanism for looms.



F. LAGEY.

SHEDDING MEGHANISM FOB. LOOMS.

APPLIuATIoN FILED AUG. 7, 1911.

17,064,494. Patented June 10, 1913 3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

P. LACBY.

SHEDDING MBGHANISM PoR Looms.

APPLICATION I'ILED AUG.7,1911. 1,064,494, Patented June 10, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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FRED LACEY, 0F LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS SHEDDING MECHANISM Foa LooMs.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Julie 10, 191 3.

Application filed August 7, 1911. Serial No. 642,775.

Be it. known that l.` Finn) Lam-1v, a citizen ot' the United States. residing at Lowell, in the county of l\fIiddlesex, State of Massachusetts. have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Shedding Mechanism for Looms, of. which the following is :i specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

'lhe invention relates Y to pattern-controlled harnesso])ei-ating mechanism for looms, and provides for the actuation of the harness-frames ota loom by devices having iniportaiitwadvantages over those heretofore employed to form sheds in the warp in a loom.

` The invention presents kla novel construction, coiiibina'tion,` and arrangement of parts. 'constituting a novel and improved shedding inechanisml of the open-shed type, and which is less subject to wear and tear, and more durable, than the dobbies and other forms ot' pattern-controlled shedding -inechanisins at present in general use.

The invention resides in aV pattern-controlled loom shedding mechanism wherein thc series of harness-frames of a loom is combined operatively with a series of cranks or their equivalents which are supported by bearings mounted in ,tixed or stationary p0- `sitions in the loom, and which are operated, to raise some of the harness-frames and lower others as required to form a shed in the warp-threads, by means of a driven gear for each crank `or its equivalent, and a driver constituted by a moving toothed surface.' the act-nation of a crank or its equivalent through the agency of the said toothed drivel' and the driven gear pertaining to such crank being caused by starting devices in connection with such parts, controlled by pattern mechanism.

'lhe invention admits of being tfnibodied in different. specific constructions, all involving the same general principles. I have herein. b v way of illustration` chosen an embodiment in which the toothed surface constituting the driver moves normally without moving the driven gear. which reniainsat rest, and in which movable starting teeth for .initiating engagement of the driver and driven gear with each other, to bring about a. partial rotation of the gear and crank each time a change 1s required 1n the position of the corresponding harnessframe. are moved into acting position undei' control of the pattern-surface.

The embodiment. just referred to is shown in the drawings, in which,-

Figure l shows in side-elevation the frame of a loom, and a harness-operating` mechanism containing the said embodiment of theinveiition. Fig. 2 is a top View of the parts shown in Fig` 1. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the said parts, including also the harness-frames and the .connections therewith. Fig. 4 is a view in side elevation showing a harness-lever and the parts which are concerned more immediately in the actuation thereof. Fig. 5 is a plan View of the parts shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a side-view, and Fig. 7 an edge View, of one of the mutilated gears. Fig. 8 is an end View, and Fig. 9 a front elevation, of the starting teeth for the mutilated gear of Figs. 6 and 7.

Having reference to the drawings-the side of the loom-frame which is partly shown in the drawings is marked 1, in Figs. l, 2 and 3, and 2 is the arch thereof. The harness-frames shown in F ig. 3 are marked 3, 3. The harnessconnections are marked 4, 4, those connected with the tops of thc harness-frames passing upward to and partly around sheaves 5 mounted upon the arch 2, and then outward to and partly around other sheaves 6, from which they extend down to and are connected with the harness-operating levers. Those which are connected with' the bottoms of the harness` frames pass downward to and partly around sheaves 7 mounted in the lower part. of the loom, and then outward to and partly around other sheaves 8, from which they e.\''

tend up to and are connected with theiharness-operating levers. The said levers, termed hereinafter simply harness-levers. are marked 9, 9, etc. They are mounted pivotally by their rear ends upon studs 10, l0, etc., Figs. 2, 3 and 5, carried by the frame 11 of the. shedding mechanism attachment, suchv frame being supported inconvenient manner at that side ofA the loom which is represented in the drawings.

The actuating devices for the harnesslevers, and the pattern-mechanism by which the action of such devices vis controlled, are mounted iii the frame 11.

The actuating crank for each harnesslever comprises a crank-pin 12 projecting from the face of a carrier-disk 13, the said disk being fixed on a short shaft 14 mounted in bearings 15, 15', which are provided in connection with frame 11. The said crankpin is engaged with the liarness-lever by being entered into a slot 16, Fi 4, in such 1ever. 'hile at rest, the cran stands either in its upper'position represented in Fig. 4, with the harness-lever 9 raised', which corresponds with the depressed position of the connected harness-frame,or in the opposite position shown in the ,case of the lowest crank in Fig. 3, with the harness-lever depressed and the connected harness-frame elevated. The crank is arrested and held in either one or the other of the said positions, after a half-revolution thereof, by means of a check-lever 17 carrying a roll 18 which bears upon the edge of the crankdisk and enters opposite notches 19, 19, Fig. 4, therein, as they successivel are presented tothe roll by successive hal -revolutions of the crank, the said arm being actuated by means of a contracting spiral spring 20 which holds the roll rmly seated in one of said notches while the crank is motionless, or in contact with said edge as the crank turns.

rl`he driven gear in connection with each vcrank is shown :it 21, it being connected with f driver is shown at 22.

the crank to turn in unison therewith, as by' beingr fixed upon shaft 14. Tt is what is' known as a mutilated gear. it being formed with opposite toothless spaces or gaps 2l,- 211. Fig. (l, and two segmental series of teeth, marked 2l, 21". The moving toothed Itis in the form ot a straight rack which moves lengthwise in a guideway Q3, Fig. 5, in the frame 11, and is reciprocatm] in such guideway by actuating connectionsy comprising a connecting-link 24. Figs. l and Q, and a crank .25 on the camshaft 26 of the loom. 'l`o enable the ent-ire series of driven gears to be operated by means of one driver, the shafts 14, 14, are disposed in a vertical series in the frame ll, one mounted vertically above another, and

thtl different driven gears are all located in the saine vertical planewitli one another. The rack is mounted iii position for engageing with all of the said gears, as pist. indil cated'.

To enable. the' cranksto' remain at rest while the, 'driver 22 reciprocates up and down, the toothless spaces or gaps 2l, 2t", of each driven gear are so located on the fill said gear that one oi the other yof them will be presented next to the driver while the connected crank is in its positions of rest, and such gaps are of such size as to permit the driver to reciprocate without touching the teeth of segments 21", 21".

Referring to Figs. 4 to 9, the movable starting teeth for a. given driven gear are Shown at 27, 2S. They are provided upon arms carried by a hub 29 which fits upon the shaft 14 of such gear. The arms occupy notches in the driven gear at the gaps 21, 21, and ai'e adapted to slide therein lengthwise of, shaft 14. The two starting teeth 27, 28, are in different transverse vertical l planes, at different distances from the hub, so that when one thereof is in line with a tooth or projection on the toothed driver designed to engage therewith the other is out of line with the tooth or projection on the driver that is designed for engagement therewith, and a movement of the huh and teeth lengthwise of shaft 14 that shifts the latter tooth into line with its cooperating tooth or projection on the driver shifts the first tooth out of line with its eoperating tooth or project-ion on the driver, and vice versa. The shifting movements of the starting teeth27, 28, are timed to occur during the dwell of the driver at the end of its stroke in either direc-tion. To permit one of said teeth to be moved into position in readiness to be engiigcd by the coacting tooth or projection as the, driver makes its stroke, gaps shown in Figs. 1 and 4 are left among the teeth of the driver at those places which are presented to the respective driven gears at. the ends of the strokes of the driver.

For thc purpose of shifting the starting teeth lengthwise of a shaft 14, each hub 2t) is grooved circuniferentially atl 29?, Figs, 5 and 9, and receives a pin carried by a lever 30 which is pivoted at 31, Figs. 2 and 5, upon frame 11. 'hen the lever swings horizontally around the said pivot, it carries the hub and starting teeth with it. rl`he lever is acted upon by a leaf-spring 32, which holds it normally in its inner position, and

returns it to such position after having been swung outward therefrom, when permitted to do so. The position of the starting teeth is controlled automatically by means of a pattern-surface which coaets with the said lever and spring. 'lhc said pattern-surface is constituted by a series of rolls 33. 33. Figs. i.` 'and 5.' mounted between the disks or flanges of a horizontal pattern-wheel 34, siicli disks or flanges also receiving between them a portion of the level' 30 so as to retain the latter in register with the rolls S13, 3?.

. 'lhe pattern-wheels for all the driven cars pertaining to thel cranks ai'c tixeduipon an upright shaft 35 which is mounted in hearings `in frame 1l, andl intcrmitt-ingly rotated'troni the rain-shaft 2G of the looni hv lueans ot a worm-wheel :it tixe'd upon the lower end of shaft 35, a worin 8T engaging with said worin-wheel, a unter-gear 3S with whieh said worin is tixedly eonneetet'l, and a niiter-gar il?) fixed on the said cani-shaft and with whit-h the lutter-gear ISS meshes.

Fig. 5 shows a roll Il?) engaged with an ai'in tL and the latter held thereby in its outwai'd position. willi starting' tooth 2T drawn outward bevond the driven gear 21 and starting' tooth '3N oeenpying one ot' the lgap.s oll sut-h gear. but at the side ot the latter l'ai'thest t'i'oin the toothed driver 22. Consi-pieni l'v. the latter inoves without actuating' the di'iven `gear. Turning' nioveinent of sha tt ifi will earr)Y said roll bil out of enj i'ageinent willi arnt litt. so as to perniit spring' Il. to niove artn Iltl inward and therebv eause the starting teeth to be shifted so as to inove the starting' tooth '2S into a position inw-ard ot' the driven gear` and starting tooth .T in the gap otl the driven gar and also in the Agap whieh the di'iver presents opposite said `fear at sueh inonient. S the toothed driver now' inoves iu one diret-tion, the l-ading toothy ot a series of the teeth thei'eot' will eneounter startingr tooth 2T and turn the driven gear fai' enough around for the followingteeth ot sut-h series to inesh with those ot' one of the .segments of the dri\en gear. 'thereby the driven gear will he turned half-wav aroundwhereupon the two sets ot' teeth will run out of niesh with eaeh other` at the other grap. and the driven gear will stand at rest. with starting tooth JT at the side farthest troni the toothed driver` and starting tooth 2S inward out of line with the teeth otl the driver. 'hen next in the turningr inovenient of the shaft 2V. a roll 2li', is eaused to eng-'age arni 30 so as to ino\e it outward and shit't the startiingr teeth into their outward position` the Start'- ii f i tooth 2H. it bein.; now at the side next tht` toothed driver. will be nioved into line with teeth ol' the latter. while starting tooth 2T. it beingll at the side of the di'iven gear l'arthest t'roni tht` driver` will be nioved outward out ot' line willi sueh teeth. ln the ensuing' nioveinent ol` tht` toothed driver. tht` tooth thereol' whieh leads will engage startin;l tooth Lrl :ind titi'ii the driven gear t'ar enough l'or the sueeeeding teeth on the l\|'i\er to tue-ll with those olI one ot. the segnientl of t" driven Igear and tui'ii the driven gear halt' wav around. until the two sets ot teeth run out of inesh with eaeh other at the j iap oeeiiped bv the arni raii' \'inj`Y startin r tooth '2i'. i

Yl`he nuinber ol' eranlts 1'2. and aeeessory nieehanisins 'or aetuating the saine and eoutrolling the :ietioli thereof. with whit'li a looio is equipped inay be varied in pi'aetiee, 'the harnes-levers E), 9, being mounted one above another. upon separate pivots7 are all brought within narrow width. and the entire shedding nieehanisin projeets only to a small extent from the looni side. By thus inountjiu tihe harness-levers I ain enabled to provide bearings of any approved length in eonneetion with the said levers. and also ani enabled to inalte the wallsI ot' the slots in the harness-hivers of any approved width. AS shown in Fig. .3. this perniits the harnessleveis to be t'ornied with long bearings tittinthr the supporting studs ttl whereby the vinountings for the pattern-levers are rendered inore substantial, and also permits the said harness-levers to be formed of inereased thieltness around the Said slots, whieh obviates rapid wear and cutting away of the walls ot' the slots. The harness-levers are all readil)v aeeessible. and an;v one thereof ina)v be reinoved or replaced without disturbing' any ot the others.

'l`he rranlts 12 are in pi'aetiee of ditlerent throw` in order that the respeetive harness levers and harness-frames ina \Y be inoved thereby to the proper extents for the production of uniform V-sheds.

The pattern-wheels preferably are located one above another between the harness-levers 9, 9, alid the pattern-levers St). 30, thereby Zgivin;Y great eoinpaetness.

What is elaiined as the invention irs;-

1. ln looni shedding ineelninisin` the eonibination with a series of harness-frames in a looui. of a series of eranlts supported by bearings oeeiip viiir fixed or stationair)v positionsl one above another in the looni and respeetively eonneetinz"r operativehv witlrthe respeetive harness-franies. a driven gear for eaeh erauk` a inovingl toothed driver, startinter deviees for eausin; r the aetuation of a eranlt and its rotation through a half-revolution through the agenev ot' said driver and the driven j rear pertaining to ,sueh ei'ank, and pattern-ineehanisni having' lines of pattern-indit'ators one above another eontrollin;r said startiuglt devices.

Q. ln looin shedding' ineehanisni, the eonibiiiatioii willi a series: of lnirnesstraines in a looni. of a series oteranlv's inouuted one above another and i'espta-tivel \v eonneeted operativel \v with the i'espeetive harnessl`ranies. a niutilated gear for eaeh ei'anlt. starting teeth in eonneetion with said nuttilated L'ear` a toothed driver whieh eoai'ts willi said starting teeth and the uiutilated fears in giving.: 'nilt-revolutions to the said eranlts and therelwv raising' and loweringl the respeetive harnessl'raines. and patternineehanisni havin;l lines ol' pattern-indieators one abo\e another in eontrol ot' the said .starting teeth. y

il. ln looui shedding inet'hanisni. the eoinbination with a series olA lntrness-l'i'aines oll a .series of .mess-levers with which the said harness-frames are connected, fhc said harness-levers being mounted one above another, a series of cranks for actuating said harness-levers, and attern-controlled mechanisln for giving iialf-revolutions to said cranks to actuate the harness-levers tomaise and lower the harness-frames.

FRED LACEY.

Witnesses CHAs. F. RANDALL, ELLEN Q. SPRING. 

